[Immunoregulatory properties of Hsp70].

Heat shock proteins 70 (Hsp70) play an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. As molecular chaperones, Hsp70 are responsible for proper folding of newly synthesized polypeptides and refolding of misfolded and aggregated proteins. Hsp70 are involved in cellular transport and participate in signal transduction processes. The presence of Hsp70 in the extracellular space is associated with development of various pathological conditions, including autoimmune and cancer diseases. Recent data suggest anti-inflammatory property of Hsp70 confirmed in both in vitro and animal models. This paper summarizes recent data regarding immunoregulatory properties of Hsp70, and presents promising results of the studies concerning the application of heat shock proteins in treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases.